Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-15
GRIMES AND ACCIDENTS.
PETER BENNETT
Tells the Story Of the Robbery.
The Defence Object to the Presence Of His
Suspected Relatives.
Whitney and Foster Plead Not Guilty.
Sheriff Sylvester Discloses Some Very
Important Points in Evidence
Whitney and Foster Plead Not Guilty.


tp otAoIt thc 1OuIt- n
dense crowd filled the building and hundreds
were unable to gain admission. The scene
very much resembled the Stain preliminary
at Dexter. The early morning train brought
crowds and there was constant stream of
carriages pouring into the city from early
morning, from the many surrounding towns.
The municipal court room was too small and
in order to conduct the hearing with anything
like convenience the court adjourned to the
county building. 1t was an impressive scene
when the two prisoners shackled together,
rose and pleaded in loud, clear tones, mot
guilty" to the charge of robbing Peter Ben
nett. Their attorney Hon. A. ii. Powers,
Immediately moved the exclusion of certain
testimony that of Frank Bennett and wife.
and George Patten and wife, on the ground
that these witnesses were parties to the
robbery. The request was granted and these
witnesses were removed.
Peter Rennett said he was 10 one year ago
last February. He did not know where Pat
ten and wife slept on the night of the rob
b'IJ' ne u u.lh anu It's tolitiils,
stating that he had not seen the money in the
trunk for ten days before the robbery. The
money was packed down fiat. If | didn't
make no mistake iu counting it, had rising
thirty thousand. had piece of paper and
when had counted one thousand, | used to
make a mark. cant write. except my
name" Said he, in in answer TO questions
II had gold, silver and bills" Here Whit
ney took out a book and made few notes.
The witness described the assault and when
he called for Patten, no one answered. One
thief had me by the throat on the floor while
the other dragged the trunk by my head.
The ropes caught in the door and the man
holding me said, ''why in hi don't you get
that trunk out?" The robbers fed, Patten
and his wife were gone and | went naked
toward my sons house, meeting on the way
his wife. We two went back to my house.
No one was there, but three quarters of an
hour after my son came. ! cant tell where
patten and his wife were. | never had any
business with either of the prisoners and
never saw them before. Never made Sc
cret of keeping money in the trunk. | have
dog Major part shepherd.
That night he was gone and did not see
him until the next day. guess | did not
see him the next day even. He was all right
when he came home.
Cross-examined.- Il was worth three hun
dred dollars when moved to Plymouth.
Got my wifes mothers property and what
my folks left He positively refused to tell
anything about the amount, claiming that he
could not remember whether he got one or
twenty thousand. Here Powers drew grad
ually from the old man his business, his
family and his opportunities to gain wealth.
Bennett testified to having only such re-
sources as farmers in general have. Pow
ers endeavored to show that Bennett never
had the sum he claims to have been robbed
of
told my son Frank after last counted it
that there was about $50 900 in all.
Mr.. Bennett on cross examination denied
ever having said anything that would impli-
cate his son.
James q. Sylvester of Pennington, deputy
sheriff. who made the arrest, was the next
witness called. He told of hearing that sus
picious characters were in his vicinity and
testified to the route taken by him and the
final arrest at Rumford. where the men were
found He said that Whitney resisted the
arrest somewhat and told what was found on
the men when searched. The money was
all wadded up and he got Sl200 of his men.
The witness produced the money in court
and it was examined. He said that Bennett
had seen the money and identified the paper
around it. He had showed the money with
blood on it to a physician, who analyzed it,
but he had not received his report.
The rest of his story has already been
given
Asher d. Horn of Pennington, was the
next witness. He is keeper of livery stable
there Went with Sheriff Sylvester on pur
suit of the suspected men,
He detailed the particulars of the follow
ing and finding of them at Rumford Ferry.
The story is similar to what has already
been published. Helped to search the men and
took one bunch of money from Whitney's
coat pocket and another from his vest pock-
ct. Both wadded up and appeared as If they
had been grabbed up and hastily thrust into
the pockets. Think the money in the coat
had something around it. Found some
cartridges on both prisoners. He produced
them in court There were three sizes, one
fitting the revolver found on the prisoners and
the other two fitting revolvers found after
the robbery. Found only one package of
money on Foster, and ether small articles;
also a slung shot in the overcoat pocket. 1t
has been taken to someone to be examined,
by Mr. Sylvester. Also picked up a revol-
yer from chair that had been Fosters.
1t is in the same condition when we re-
received only the cartridges were removed.
produced in court "self-cocking" revolver.
The men were dressed as now with the ex-
ception that they wore either wool or felt
boots. They said they bought the felt boots
at New Portland, gong to Bryants Pond on
the Grand Trunk railroad, about miles
from the ferry. They said they came from
Lewiston to Pennington and from Farming
ton to Phillips by rail.
Cross examined. Have made no inquiries
as to the route taken by the men. | called
two men to help make the arrest. The pris-
oners made no objection to going into the
next room. The men refused TO give their
names : found slung shot in the right
hand coat pocket; found cartridges i'll both
Whitney and Fosters pants pockets don't
know whether any of the money taken by
me had blood stains; have not examined or
counted ii; 1t was counted by Mr.. Holman
the cashier of the bank at Pennington, and
put in an envelope in the safe AMI has not
been opened since; have the money with
me.
He produced the money sealed up as it
came by express. The money upon being
opened was found to be done up in packages
and tied up with red yarn strings and
papers similar to the description given by
Mr. Bennett, of the manner in which his
money tied The witness recognized the two
revolvers shown as the ones which the car
tridges fitted.
Sheriff Sylvester was recalled by the de-
defence He took the slung shotto DIR. Neatly
for examination, to whom he took the stained
bills. He does not know whether the doc
tor axam;uea IL The doctor returned il TO
him. The slung shot was in the same coudi-
ton when he delivered it To the doctor as
when taken from Foster He recognized the
two pistols which the cartridges htted.
Adjourned until 10 A. NJ, Thursday.